Steam electric iron



H. w. CLUM s wnu ELECTRIC IRON Filed lay 30. 1944.

Aug. 12, .1947.

2 Sheets-Shut 1 Q ON mm -of the soleplate.

Patented Aug. 12, 1947 STEAM anaem c mos Henry Walter Clum, Upper Darby,Pa., minorto Philco Corporatiomlhlladelphla, Pa a corporation ofPennsylvania Application May 30, 1944, Serial No. 538,022

' 4 Claims. (c1, 38-" 1 This invention relates to steam irons.

I In the process of' ironing or pressing it is generally desirable firstto uniformly dampen the work and then to remove the moisture by theapplication of heat. Except in the case of irons of the steam electrictype, dampening is conventionally done by some direct application ofwater, such as by sprinkling, for example, and uniformity of dampeningis seldom achieved. It is customary in fact, after such application ofwater to roll the work tightly, cover it, and allow it to I stand untilthe moisture has had an opportunity to spread throughout more or lessuniformly, this requiring usually two hours or more, depending upon thenature of the material of which the work is composed. It is well knownthat steam is the best medium for uniform application of moisture forironing purposes, and the steam electric hand iron has combined thedampening and pressing functions in one instrument. Heretoiore, suchirons have been provided with a single group of steam outlets or jetsthrough which the steam is emitted either continuously or in response tothe manipulation of a valve by the operator, and such group of jets hasbeen variously located in accordance with the individual preference ofthe manufacturer. In some irons, for example, the jets have been locatedat the front of the soleplate, in others at the sides, and in stillothers centrally It has been found desirable in to have the steamedportion of the work subjected immediately to. the action of as large anarea as possible of the hot soleplate, to thereby remove the moistureand impart the desired ironed finish.

Those irons which emit steam solely from thefront or side edges of thesoleplate usually leave in the work an inadequately dried area when theiron is moved in any direction but straight forward. The hot soleplateof the iron, or a sufiicient portion thereof, does not immediately passover all of the dampened area of the work and thus fails to remove themoisture, with the result that the material is not properly dried .andset. On the other hand, those irons wherein the jets are placedcentrally of the soleplate have only localized application of steam andcannot possibly distribute the steam over the entire area swept by thesoleplate. 'With these types of iron the labor of the operator is eithergreatly increased,-

or the character ofthe work is poor.

lt'is an object of the present invention to provide an improved steamiron in which steam is emitted adjacent the leading edge of the ir nregardless of the direction in which the iron may be moved, whereby thedampened portions ofv the work are immediately subjected to the actionof a substantial area of the hot soleplate.

Another object is to provide a steam iron having a plurality of Jetgroups fromv which steam is emitted-selectively in accordance with thedirection of movement of the iron.

The'invention also contemplates the provision of a steam iron whereinthe foregoing operation is accomplished without specialmanipulation onthe part of the operator. I

A further object is to provide an iron having a plurality of steamoutlet apertures or jet groups which are individually operable to emitsteam in response to forces exerted in the act of moving the iron.

Still further,-an object of the invention is to provide a steam iron ofthe aforesaid character having the, added characteristics. of structuralsimplicity, rugged design, and adaptability for economical massproduction.

steam ironing In the attached drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a steam elec-. tric iron embodying theinvention;-

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the iron on theline 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 32 of Figure 2; 30,

Figure dis a top plan view of the soleplate detached from the rest ofthe iron;

Figures5, 6, '1 and 8 are diagrammatic views of the soleplate, eachillustrating a separate jet group and 'itseii'ective operationalcharacteristics;" and v Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of a modificationof the invention.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of I the drawings, theironcomprises generally a base member or soleplate ID, a cover H suitablysecured to the soleplate, and a handle i2 carriedby said cover,

More particularly, the soleplate It, as illustrated in Figure 4, is ofconventional streamlined configuration and is provided with four groupsof outlet apertures or jet groups l6, l1, l8 and is which togethersubstantially surround the major area of the soleplate. Each jet groupcomprises a plurality of steam discharge apertures or jets 20 whichcommunicate with channelsfll, 22, 22 and 24. respectively, formed in theupper surface 25 of said soleplate. It should be understoodthat, whileit is considered preferable to have four jet groups this number may beincreased or decreased, as desired.

portion 42 ofsaid soleplate ill. The reservoir 40 i is preferably formedintegrally with the cover ii and in the present instance entirelyencircles the extension 33. A depressed portion 43 of the bottom wall 44of the reservoir 43 is adapted to fit into a recess 43 in the uppersurface of boss .42,

and is provided with an opening 41 through which is passed a valve seatfitting 43, said fitting having an aperture 43 therethrough whichcommunicates with'the passage 4! and establishes communication betweenthe passage and the reservoir 43. The fitting is threaded into the boss42 and is of a character to firmly secure the reservoir. to thesoleplate. Agasket is provided, between the header the fitting. and theopposed-surface of the depression 43 to make the connection watertight.

Regulation of the quantity. of water to pass V through the aperture 43and passage 4| to steam chamber 33 is effected in the illustratedembodiment, through the medium of a needle valve."

having threaded connection with a raised boss 31 on thecover ll, saidboss being located directly over the valve seat. The valv is providedwith a knob 32 for regulating the rate of vfiow of the water to thechamber, or for completely shutting 5 oil the water supply to the steamchamber 33 when it is desired to iron dry, or during periods when thereservoir is being filled. A filler opening 53 is provided in the cover,which opening is normally closed by a removable plug 33.

4 The soleplate I0 is provided in the present instance with an armoredelectrical heaterelement 31 of well-known construction and comprising anoutermetallic tube I53 having a, resistance'element 33 supported inconcentric spaced relation thereto by means of. a suitableheat-conducting electrical insulating material 30. Electrical-energy forheating the. iron'is supplied through a cord 3i provided withconventional means for connection to an electrical outlet (not shown).30

This cord comprises conductors 32 one of which is connected to an end ofresistance element 53 and the other to one side of a manually adjustablethermostatic switch 33 mounted in recess 34 in cover II, the saidelement 53 and switch 63 being 55 connected together'to form a seriescircuit under control .01 the latter. A knob 63 is provided for manualadjustment of the thermostat.

A cover plate 33, suitably secured to the soleplate III, as byscrewsfl,encloses the channels 2|,22, 2-3 and 24, and 23, 23, 30 and 31 and formstherewith conduits for conducting the steam to the several jet groupsl3, l1, l3 and i3, indi-- vidually, as determined by a valve l3,hereinafter more fully described. g.

The steam chamber is preferably of thef'flash" type; i. e., waterfrom'the reservoir flows through passage 4i into contactwith the heatedbottom wall .33 of the chamber and is immediately converted into steam.

. a 7 The upper edge of the chamber walls comprises va valveseat 33 fora hollow substantially. spherical valve member In havin itsbottom'portion cut 7 away, as at H, to permit steam from the steamchamber to enter the interior ofitha Valve, A cap member 12 having anopening 13 (the surface of which is shaped to fit the spherical surfaceof the valve and to provide a snug fit therewith) is secured to the topof the extension 36, as by screws 14. Radialgrooves 11 in the lowersurface of the cap member 12 register with radial grooves 18 in the topsurface of extension 33 to provide radial extensions of the passages 32,33, 34 and 35. Valve member Hi normally interrupts communication betweenthese radial extensions and steam chamber 33, but is provided withhorizontally slotted ports 13, 80, BI and 82 which are arranged toregister respectively with the inner ends of the aforesaid extensionswhen the valve is turned in h the manner now to be explained.

The handle l2, which comprises forward and '7 rearward standards, 83 and34, respectively, and

an intermediate grip portion 35, is slidably connected to the topsurface of cover i I. To this end,

the forward standard 33 is provided with a depending stub shaft 86 whichextends through an opening 81 oi larger diameter than the shaft topermit limited lateral movement of the handle in anydirection relativeto the cover. Larger washera" are carried byshaft-33 on each side of thecover to prevent angular displacement of the handle relative to thecover, and provide bearing surfaces for the sliding movements. Th handleis connected with valve 13 through a ball and sleeve Joint 33 whichincludes a ball 30 on the top of valve member 73, and a sleeve 3isecured to the lower end of shaft 33 and into which the. ball snuglyfits. To prevent relative rotation of the handle and valve, the ball isprovided with a pair of radial pins 32 which fit'into slots 33 inopposite sides of the sleeve, said slots being sufficient in length topermit relative vertical movement of the pins and the-sleeve when thehandle is moved. A pair of opposed springs 34 are attached respectivelyto the ends of pins 32 and to the walls of reservoir 40, and normallyresiliently retain the valve in a central position, as illustrated. a Toprevent horizontal rotational movement of the handle about the axis ofthe shaft 33, while still permitting the aforesaid lateral movements,

the rear standard 3401' the handle is provided with a short dependinglug33 which extends through a slot 38 in cover H.

The rearward standard of the handle is also provided with an upwardlyprojecting portion 31 which cooperates with the heel 33 or the soleplatein providing a stable support for the iron when rested in an uprightrest position upon a horizontal surface, as indicated by the broken line33. 'When in this position ofv rest, the level :01 the water inreservoir 40 will be below the outlet aperture 43 of the valve seat 43,thereby precluding entrance of water into the steam chamber 33.

pperation of the iron is as follows:

Assume reservoir 40 to be substantially filled with water, needle valveset to the desiredposition. and thermostat 33 set for the degree ofheating required for the particular material to be' pressed. Handle i2is grasped by the operator and the iron is moved-over the material byapplyingforce to the handle in the direction desired. This force firsteffects a slight movement of the handle with relation to the body of thef 0 iron in the direction 01'. applied force, thereby turning the valvei3 in a manner and to an extent to establish communication between thesteam chamber and one or other of the Jet groups, depending upon thedirection of force.

1 More specifically, let it be assumed that "the assuage force upon thehandle is in the forward direction. It willbe seen by referenceto Figure2 that the handle will move forwardly with-relation to cover ll untilshaft" engages the wall of opening 81, this movement causing rotation ofvalve member HI sufficient to register port with the radial extension ofpassage 32, thus effecting communication between steam chamber 39 andthe forward discharge apertures or jet group l8 through channels 23 and2|. Steam generated; in the chamber will then be emitted from 'jet,group It so that the steamed area of the work may be immediatelysubjected to action of a major portion of the hot soleplate as the ironis advanced. In like manner a rearward-movement of the iron brings theport 8| ofthe valve into registration with the radial extensionofpassage 34 and permits steam to flow from steam chamber 39 throughpassage 30 and channel 23 to the jets 20 of the rearward jet group I8.Sidewise movement away from the viewer (as the iron is seen in Figure 2)rotatesvalve 10 to bring port 00 into'registration with the radialextension of passage 33 and'will effect communication between the steamchamber and jet group I1. Similarly, movement of the iron in an oppositesidewise direction brings the port 82 into registration with the radialextension of passage 35 and thereby permits steam to flow throughpassage 3i and channel 24 to the jets 20 of group i9.

As more clearly illustrated in the diagrammatic Figures 5, 6, '7 and 8,if the iron is moved forwardly in any direction encompassed by anglespring retainer has been depressed by the lug I! whereupon c-slightcounter-clockwise rota-* tionel movement of the rearward end of thehandle moves "the lug into the offset portion where it is held "by thespring retainer. The lug may "be released manually by-depressingtherctainer directly or by exerting 'sumcient force through thehandle. in aclockwise direction ag'ainstthe retainer to cause it to move to its de-1 -pressed-position so 'as to 'allow lug to return toslot I00.

A (Figure 5), the jet group I8 will be the'only group emitting steam,and, as indicated by lines A during such movement the 'steamed area willfrom jet group it, which area .is indicated by the shaded portion A".Similarly, when the iron is moved in any direction encompassed by angle13 (Figure 6) jet group I1 will be the only group emitting steam, andparallel lines 3* indicate that .portion of the hot soleplate whichoverruns the area steamed by this group. As indicated by Figures 'l and8, a corresponding condition exists with jet group I3, angle C, andlinesC; and with jet group ll, angle D, and lines D.

Thus, the invention provides a steam iron from which steam is emittedineffect only from the leading edge of the iron 'irrespective'of thedirection in which it may be moved, whereby the area dampened by thesteam is immediately subject to the pressing and drying action of asubstantial portion of the total area of the hot soleplate. In thepresent instance. the emission of steam is automatically responsive toforces applied in manipulating the iron.

Under certain conditions, such, for example. as when it is desired toiron pleats, gathers and other such portions of the garment beingpressed, it is particularly advantageous to emit steam from the toe onlyof the iron. For this purpose, and with reference to Figure 9, the abovedescribed device may be modified as follows: The slot Hi0 correspondingto slot 88 in the aforedescribed embodiment is provided with an offsetportion lfll and a spring retainer I 02. When it is desired to havesteam emit only from the forward jet group, the body of the iron is heldadjoining.

Whilea speciilc mechanism has been'illustrated to accomplish theIobjectsset-forth'it is evident that variationsthercof are'possible without departing-from the invention.

1. Ai steam iron comprising .a soleplate having a "front jet group,"opposite side jet groups; and a rear jet group, means for heating saidsoleplate,

.a source of steam, valve means for directing steam'from said source tothe said jet groups, 1se-- lectively, a member for transmitting motion"to the iron in performance ofthe ironing function; said meinberlhavinglostmotion with respect to the sole'plate so that each movement ofthe'ji-ronf so transmfittedis precedediby a movement ofthe member insubstantially the same directionand' with respect to said plate, andmeans for opera- ,tively associating the member with the valve means sothat each saidpreceding movement of the member actuates the valve meansto direct steam to a predetermined jet group, said member being movablefrom a neutral position, wherein the valve prevents passage of steam toany of said groups, into each of a plurality of open positions admittingsteam respectively to said groups, and also from each of said openpositions directly to the open positions immediately a adjoining.

2. A steam iron comprising a soleplate having a front jet group,opposite side jet groups, and a rear jet 'group, means for heating saidsoleplate, a source of steam connected to said jet groups, valve meansinterposed between said jet groups and said source for directing steamfrom the source to said groups, selectively, a member for transmittingmotion to the iron in performance of the ironing function, said memberhaving lost motion with respect to the sole plate so that each movementof the iron so transmitted is preceded by a movement of the member insubstantially the same direction and with respect to said plate, andmeans for operatively connecting the member with the valve meansso thateach said preceding movement of the member will actuate the valve meansto direct steam to the jet group toward which the movement of the memberoccurs,

,said member being movable from a neutral position, wherein the valveprevents passage of steam to any of said groups, into each'of aplurality of open positions admitting steam respectively to saidgroupsmnd also fromeach of said open positions directly to the openpositions immediately 3. A steam iron including a water said reservoir,a soleplate having a plurality of jet groups jointly substantiallysurrounding said soleplate, means connecting said jet groups to saidchamber, :and unitary valve means interposed between said groups andsaid chamber for selectively controllingpassage of steam to said groups,a member for transmitting motion to the iron in performance of theironing function, said while the handle is moved forwardly until themember having lost motion with respect to the supply reser -voir, asteam generating chamber connected to so transmitted is preceded by amovement of the member substantially in the same direction and withrespect-to said plate,'andmeans for operamovements or the handlerelative to said cover :will' actuate the valve means in a manner toditively connecting the member with.- the 1 valve means so that eachsaid preceding movement oi the member will actuate the valve unit todirect steam toithe Jet group toward which the movement of the memberoccurs, said valve unit havi'rom all oi. said jets 4th steamironcomprising a soleplate having four separate ietsroups for emittingsteam, a

cover overlying-and secured to) said solepiate,

means for heating said soleplate, a steam gen e'rator carried by saidsoleplate, a water supply 1,0 95- reservoir carried by said cover, meansincluding an adjustable valve for supplying water' from said reesrvoirto the steam generator; means connecting said jet groups to saidgenerator, valvelmeans' interposed between said :Ietgroups and thesenerator. a handle mounted on the cover, said handie ireeior limitemovement-with respect,

to the cover in directions generally parallel to the plane'oi' saidsole-plate amkbein: connected to the valve means by such constructionthat said --rect'steam to said Jet groups selectively inaccordance withthe direction of movementot said I ironjresulting Irom pressure appliedthereto by I ing a universal mounting permitting direct 10 wayoisaidhandle. v

movement thereof between operative positions a a wherein steam isadmitted respectively. to said Jet groups, and between each. 01'said-positions, and a neutral position wherein steam. i excluded a nnmrwan'ran ."nEFEm css CITED 1 i The following' references are oi record inthe 15 flle'oi' thispatent:

s'ra'rasrarsis'rsj 'Number I 'Date" Germany 1a, 1928*

